Thranduil sat and watched Legolas. His son sat curled in the armchair in his father's room, sipping brandy from a cup to sooth his nerves. His face was pale and shaken, his hands trembling, his mind still on thoughts of his new fire-bending and Eigil's horrible shrieking.

"Do you feel better?" Thranduil asked, taking Legolas's empty cup.

Legolas nodded, his eyes on the floor.

"Would you like to try summoning a flame?"

"No!" Legolas cried, shrinking back into his seat. "I-I—no!"

"You will not hurt me, little leaf," Thranduil said gently. "My powers are greater then yours; if anything wild comes into being, I will end it."

Legolas drew his knees up to his chest and rested his forehead on them. He could not explain to his father how humiliated he would feel if he failed to create a spark. He could not explain how the thought frightened him. He felt Thranduil raise his chin and tried to avoid his father's steady gaze but he failed.

"Legolas, I will not force you to do anything you do not wish to. But I need you to promise me one thing; if you want to conjure a flame, please do it away from the trees."

Legolas flushed. "Yes, ada."

Thranduil rose to his feet, passing a hand over Legolas's. "Hannon le, my little leaf. I will be gone a moment but wait for me here. I must ask the healers how Eigil fares."

Legolas waited for the door to close behind his father before he sprang to his feet and timidly attempted to produce a flame, holding out his hands, his face turned away. A small drop of fire appeared in the air above his palm, the size of a candle flame. Legolas peeked at it and turned his head to face it, enjoying the warmth it cast on his face. He sat down in the armchair and concentrated on feeding the fire. He created another small flame in his other hand and cautiously joined the two together, holding the flame in his cupped hands.

The door opened and Thranduil entered the room, walking past the small table against the wall where the brandy bottle stood. He stopped in front of his son and Legolas looked up at him, holding out the flame with a big smile.

Thranduil knelt down to admire the fire. "It is beautiful, Legolas. Fire it may be but it is a good reflection of your peaceful heart."

Legolas ducked his head as his cheeks turned red at the praise. "T-thank you, ada. I-I was not really trying. I-I mean I had to think about it to make the fire but . . ."

Thranduil smiled. "I understand." He held up his own hands, a flame blossoming above them. "Now follow my movements as best as you can."

Legolas sat back, his heart fluttering, and tried to imitate his father's smooth, steady hand movements but his own felt awkward and clumsy, lacking the grace. The small but majestic dragon Thranduil created looked enchanting; captivating. His own looked crooked and far from terrifying.

"I cannot do it!" Legolas exclaimed, his ball of flame vanishing in a puff of smoke. "It is no good; I will never be able to do it like you!"

"What you say is true," Thranduil agreed. "You will never be able to do it the way I do for you must bend your own way."

Legolas buried his face in his hands and leaned his elbows on his knees. "Will you punish me for failing?" His voice sounded lonely and meek.

"You failed not, Legolas. Practice is all you need. You did the best you could and I could not ask more."

"Eigil would have whipped me."

"I am not Eigil," Thranduil said. "His actions were cruel and unjust."

Legolas raised his head and wrapped his arms around his father's neck. He smiled at the far wall, seeing a light ahead of himself in the darkness.

"Come and eat with us," Thranduil said. "Dinner will be served soon, and you must be hungry."

Eigil blinked to restore his focus. He lay still in bed, recovering from his vicious burns. His face twisted into a mask of bitterness and hate as he thought of Legolas. Miserable elfling had dared to fight back and had even half-killed him! Clearly his punishments could not have been hard enough!

"I see you are awake."

Eigil jerked in surprise; the king! His room held only his bed and a small table with a window to his left. Thranduil stood before the window, gazing out at the courtyard below. He turned to face Eigil; his eyes empty of emotion, hands behind his back.

"I come to talk to you about several select things," Thranduil said.

Eigil lifted his chin. "I have nothing to say. Now that I lie helpless, the great king Thranduil wishes to talk? I think not!"

"I wish to help you, Eigil."

"I do not want your help and pity!" Eigil spat.

"And I have none to give," Thranduil answered. "What evil has taken your heart?"

"No evil but the righteousness of orcs!" Eigil replied, his eyes gleaming. "On my journey with the family as I child to Rivendell, everyone in my company was either slaughtered or taken captive. They killed my weak parents and I watched! Orcs taught me to survive, one must be strong and earn their place or die trying! Lived with the orcs as one of them, and their lessons were of strength and honor! Your gentle ways are petty and weak!"

"I am sorry you believe that," Thranduil said.

"Pah! I came here to live with my own kin, and what have I found? I find elves are measly, pathetic wretches! My wife died giving birth to my son in the greatest show of weakness of all!" Eigil gasped for breath.

"Your son?" Thranduil said, concerned any child of Eigil might fare worst then Legolas.

"Yes, my son!" Eigil spat. "My monster, Web. Beastly child! Never does he learn the lessons of life as I try to teach him as I was taught!"

"Lie back and rest," Thranduil advised. "The fire burned your lungs; save your breath."

"Kill me and be done with it!" Eigil spat. "I know you want to!"

"I will not live knowing I am a Kinslayer," Thranduil answered.

A cruel smile played across Eigil's lips as he thought of a way to punish Legolas further for his actions. He chuckled at the thought of it, the sound ugly and rough. His eyes crazed, Eigil continued, driving the thought of pain and suffering further. "Web is dead by now; chained to the wall of the cellar without the food and water his weak body survives on! Serves him right for his—" He broke off, coughing up blood.

Thranduil cast a disgusted look in Eigil's direction and departed from the room. Eigil wiped the blood from his lips on the back of his hand and leered at the far wall as his mind worked to bring to life the details of his wicked plan.

Meanwhile, Thranduil summoned his Captain of the Guard, Rival. The elf knelt at his feet, his head bowed as he received his orders. "Rival, go to Eigil's house and recover from the cellars an elfling known as Web."

Rival's head jerked up. "A son? The son of Sauron has a son?"

"Yes, and my heart is as full of fear as yours," Thranduil confesses. "Go quickly and end his suffering!"

Rival rose to his feet, the skirt of his green tunic swirling around his legs. A ponytail falling onto his shoulder restrained his hair. His green eyes glittered and his lips were sympathetic. He turned, his hand on his sword hilt, hand pushing back his cloak and marched from the room. No sooner had the elf gone then one of the healers approached Thranduil.

"My lord, I am sorry to say Eigil's condition is not promising. His lungs were burned by the fire and damaged. I do not think he will live. It is all we can do to ease his passing."

Thranduil closed his eyes as he thought of how Legolas would feel. "I will grieve his passing for it is not every day an elf dies. Do what you can for him."

"I marvel you do not hate Eigil for the many ways he harmed you and your son," said the healer.

"Eigil is a hurting elf now," Thranduil said sadly. "It is true he hurt me and he has paid the piece for his actions in a way he could not have anticipated. Excuse me; I must see how Legolas progresses."

Thranduil left the palace and walked to the stone courtyard. Legolas was there, with his brothers, practicing fire bending. As he pushed open the metal gate, Legolas turned to greet him, his smile illuminated by the flames rushing from his hands. "Ada, look! I can make the dragon you showed me!" He flung out his hands and the flaming dragon rose into the air, spitting fire before it fell to the ground in a gentle shower of sparks.

Thranduil closed the metal gate behind him. "I am happy you are happy, my little leaf. Are you ready to learn something new?"

Legolas glanced behind him at his grinning brothers. "Yes!"

Thranduil held out his hands. "Watch me and follow my actions!"

The smile on Legolas lips and the happiness in his eyes lifted the shadow from his heart. He looked over his shoulder and saw Cinwe sitting on the wide, flat top of the wall near the gate with Ellhamier sitting beside her, his arms folded. Cinwe smiled and waved her hand.

"I am not lonely, Thrandy," she said. "It brings great joy to my heart to see all my boys so happy."

Assured Cinwe was not feeling shoved into the shadows, Thranduil turned back to the quadruplets.